"The need for security becomes ever greater in times of increased terrorist activities and increasingly severe natural catastrophes. These needs have to be met by politicians in the form of the most up-to-date and most appropriate security installations. Therefore, there is a need for more innovative and newer technologies focusing on security", said the State Secretary for Research Eduard Mainoni in the run-up to the Conference on Security Research which begins in the Hofburg in Vienna on 20 February.
During the conference, Austria will contribute its own experience in security research to the discussions and, together with the Member States, anchor security research in the 7th Framework Programme. The conference (20 to 21 February) also aims to set the course for further work on the part of the EU Commission.
"With the correct initiatives, we will be giving security the prominence it deserves and creating the basis for new and innovative projects. Here, Austria can call upon its own experience and give the necessary impetus to European security. We are the first EU country to have taken initiatives in this direction through the Transport, Innovation and Technology Ministry's KIRAS programme”, said the State Secretary.
Overall, up to EUR 13 million is available to the research community for KIRAS. During an initial survey of interest, 250 project ideas were submitted (among others, on the themes of civil protection and/or disaster management and traffic safety) equivalent to a minimum support volume of EUR 80 million. The date for launching tenders for programme lines 1 and 4 has been set for the next few days.
"We see our main aims as the protection of critical infrastructures and security at major events such as the current Olympic Games", concluded Mr Mainoni.
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